A chorus of voices rose, but Tal called out, “That’s all we have time for. Good day.” She slipped her arm from around Salomen’s waist, caught her hand, and held their clasped hands up in a farewell gesture that caused the entire swarm of vidcams to swoop in. Leaving the Guards to hold back the journalists, they made their way up the ramp and into the transport, where Salomen waited only until the door closed behind the last Guard before turning to Tal and resting her head on her shoulder.
“You did beautifully, tyrina,” Tal said as her Guards discreetly found other places to look.
Salomen took a deep breath in, let it out slowly, and raised her head. “Thank you. I felt like a fanten on slaughter day.”
“But you looked like a Bondlancer in full control.” Tal gave her an encouraging smile. “I particularly enjoyed watching you slap them down for their lack of courtesy. I think you’ve already established your reputation.”
“Might as well start now,” Salomen said.
Tal tugged her into the pilot’s cabin, shut the door, and pulled her into her arms. “You’re magnificent,” she said, holding her tightly and stroking the back of her head. “And you make me so damned proud. Those journalists thought they’d be dealing with a meek little dokker, but they learned a quick lesson about the Bondlancer.”
“Will they always think of me as the producer Bondlancer?” Salomen pushed herself back far enough to look into Tal’s eyes. “Am I going to be fighting caste prejudice for the rest of my life?”
“Perhaps in the beginning. But I think you’ll give your caste a brand-new face and reputation. When Micah had his first dealings with you, he was instantly impressed. He told me that you would make an excellent unit trainer. And I told him that if you trained units, we’d have an entire Alsean Defense Force cowering at the sight of a producer.”
Salomen laughed, her mood lifting. “You said that? Before you even arrived at Hol-Opah?”
“Oh, yes. And Micah said that he was certain you would consider it a positive development.”
“He was wrong about that. Now that I know your Guards, I can’t imagine seeing any of them cowering at anything. And I really cannot imagine you cowering.” She paused, a decidedly evil expression taking over her face. “Well, except for—”
Tal kissed her then, partly to stop her and partly because she had wanted to since watching her take control of the journalists. Salomen’s response was gentle at first, but her passion soon flamed up, igniting Tal’s as well. For a moment Tal entertained a wild fantasy of joining with her right here in the cabin. She pushed Salomen against the door as they kissed, the desire heating her blood and making her forget for a few blessed pipticks just how much she had hanging over her head. But reality intruded and she broke off reluctantly, resting their foreheads together. “I probably sound like a lovestruck fool, but I miss you already. We haven’t had a peaceful night together in too long.”
“It’s only been two nights. But given the fact that we only had three nights to begin with, I know what you mean. Why did you stop?”
“I have to call Colonel Razine, and then I have to—”
Further speech became impossible as Salomen surged forward to kiss her again. Her hands slipped between them to cup Tal’s breasts, softly squeezing as she kissed along a cheekbone ridge and then tugged on an earlobe. “You will always have things to do,” she whispered as Tal squirmed. “If you wait until nothing is pressing, I’ll never feel your touch again. And I want to feel that touch.”
“Now?” Tal gasped.
“Now.”
It was all the invitation she needed. With a growl, she knocked Salomen’s hands away and reached up to hold her head in place, nipping at her throat where the ridges were already beginning to emerge.
“You felt it.” She bit a ridge more aggressively, a thrill shooting through her at Salomen’s sharp intake of breath. She backed off just enough to push Salomen’s jacket off her shoulders and a moment later had her shirt off as well. “I’ll have to be more careful about my little fantasies around you.”
“Don’t ever be careful.” Salomen leaned against the door, naked from the waist up and looking dangerously beautiful. “I love knowing when you want me.”
“I always want you. I just can’t always do anything about it.” Tal took two steps to the control boards and activated the privacy screen, frustrating the vidcams that were already hovering outside. The sun glaring off the front window kept them from focusing on the cabin doorway, so they were positioned at the sides, watching the pilot’s and copilot’s seats instead. But Tal had plans for that copilot’s seat.
“Sorry to disappoint,” she said with satisfaction as the vidcams sank down. In a heartbeat she was standing in front of Salomen again, looking her over with a tingle of anticipation. “Now, where was I?”
“You hadn’t gotten started yet. I think I’m being very patient.”
“Good for you. Patient is not something I’m feeling at the moment.” Tal’s mood had shifted into something far more aggressive, and she knew Salomen was receptive. With other lovers she might have tempered her desires, but Salomen was watching her in defiant invitation, all but daring her to show what she could do.
With a swift movement, she captured Salomen’s wrists and pinned them against the door, pressing their bodies together and taking her mouth in a demanding kiss. Salomen didn’t struggle, but her kisses were just as demanding, letting Tal know that she was not a quiescent partner. Their emotions abruptly merged, and Tal’s aggression roared into a flame she could barely control.
“Goddess,” she panted, pulling back. Her gaze drifted to the half-emerged neck ridges, then to Salomen’s bare shoulders, the slope of her breasts, and her hard nipples. “I don’t want you. I need you.”
“Then why are you standing there looking at me?”
Tal took one step back, pulling Salomen with her, then shifted her captured wrists to the small of her back. With the improved leverage she crushed Salomen to her, bent her head to a breast, and sucked hard on the nipple.
“Yes…” Salomen arched back, offering an even better angle.
Tal used it to her advantage, holding her in that position long past the point of comfort while she switched from one breast to the other. Salomen’s arousal climbed steadily, fed by the aggressive treatment and the restraint of her arms, until Tal had reached her limit. With no gentleness whatsoever she spun them both around and pushed Salomen into the copilot’s chair, hearing the whuf as she landed.
“Take the rest off. Now.”
Salomen complied quickly, tossing her clothes to the side, and the sight of her naked in the chair was fuel to Tal’s fantasies. She dropped to her knees between Salomen’s legs and pulled her to the edge of the chair. “You knew I didn’t have time to spare, but you wanted it anyway. So I’m not going to apologize for this.” With that she slid two fingers into Salomen’s center, the ease of her entry goading her on.
Salomen gripped the armrests. “Who asked for an apology? Get on with it.”
Tal twisted her fingers, wringing out a groan. Twisting back to line up her fingers with the inner ridges, she took Salomen hard and fast, watching with intense fascination. Nothing compared with the feeling of sinking herself inside another, and with Salomen the sensation was even more overwhelming. For this proud, strong woman to allow and even invite such entry was arousing all by itself. Watching it took her breath away.
She lifted her gaze and looked into a pair of smoldering brown eyes. Their expression would have told her exactly what Salomen was feeling even if their emotions hadn’t been merged. Changing the tempo, she pulled nearly all the way out and slowly pushed back in, and the next time she looked up, she saw what she had been waiting for. Salomen’s throat ridges had popped out into sharp relief.
Rising to her feet, she braced herself with one hand o
n the armrest and sank her teeth into the nearest throat ridge.
Salomen’s body jerked, her groan of pleasure sending a shiver down Tal’s spine.
“The Guards certainly heard that,” she said, and bit down again. This time Salomen made no sound, holding it in with a difficulty that Tal could easily feel. It was an instant challenge, and her third bite was harder. The fourth was enough to leave a mark, and the fifth broke Salomen’s resolve.
“Fahla! You’re killing me!”
“No, just giving you precisely what you wanted. Hold on to those armrests; you’re going to need them.” Tal sank her teeth in one last time, keeping them closed on the ridge as she pulled her fingers out. For several long pipticks she simply let Salomen sit there, her chest heaving as she caught her breath, but unable to move with Tal’s teeth holding her in place. Then Tal reached up to grasp one nipple in each hand, squeezing them as she gradually increased the pressure of both fingers and teeth. It was a slow, intense assault on the senses, and before long Salomen was writhing, her fingers digging into the armrests.
“Goddess!” she gasped. “I can’t take it!”
Tal knew that was not true; she hadn’t felt any glimmer of pain yet. Silently, she increased the pressure further still, watching Salomen’s back arch to an impossible degree, and only when she felt her tyree reaching the threshold did she finally release her.
Salomen slumped against the seat, her breathing a harsh rasp as she rubbed her throat ridge. “Shekking Mother,” she whispered, a profanity Tal had never heard from her. “No one’s ever done that before. I thought I was going to die.”
“No one has ever pushed you to your limit before.” Tal held up three fingers, watching Salomen’s eyes widen, and then reached down. Salomen bit her bottom lip as they went in, her eyes shut tight against the pressure. Alsean internal anatomy was quite variable, and Salomen’s was really made for two fingers. Three did not quite fit her ridges, resulting in a feeling of fullness and overstimulation that would have been uncomfortable for her had she not been so aroused. As it was, Tal reveled in the sensations she absorbed through their link, knowing that Salomen was on the knife edge between pleasure and pain. She began a slow thrusting but soon picked up speed, watching as Salomen’s hips met her every stroke.
Her distraction left her open, however, and the sudden weight around her neck was her only warning before Salomen forced her head over. A sharp bite to one of her own throat ridges nearly buckled her knees. She hadn’t even felt them emerge.
“You look incredible like this.” The voice in her ear was ragged. “I wish you could see yourself.” Salomen bit her again, and this time it was only Tal’s hand on the armrest that kept her upright. She wanted more; an assertive Salomen sent her straight to the stars. But she also wanted to finish what she had begun.
“I’m happy with what I’m seeing right now.” She jerked her head away, and since her knees were already weak, she swung her leg back over and let herself sink to the floor.
In front of her was the most arousing view she could imagine, and the scent was driving her wild. Salomen’s scent reminded her of sallgreen trees, when she crushed the thin, needlelike leaves in her hand—bracing and fresh, a fragrance that burned a path from her nose straight to the back of her head. She inhaled deeply, then leaned forward to run her tongue along the sweet curve of the molwine.
Salomen jumped at the first touch, then went limp. “Oh, yes,” she murmured. “Please keep doing that if it makes you happy.”
Tal smiled and repeated her gentle caress. “Believe me, it does. And I will.” She glanced up to see Salomen’s head resting on the back of the seat, her throat ridges sharply defined. The right one glowed with marks that Tal’s teeth had left, and not for the first time, she wished she could be everywhere at once. It was hard to see those throat ridges and not be able to do anything about them.
But there was a ridge right under her mouth that needed her attention, and she began a gentle nibbling as she resumed her hand motion, this time slow and deep. With every thrust she softly closed her teeth on the molwine, careful not to use too much pressure. The molwine was far more delicate than the throat ridges, easily overstimulated, and she was approaching the limit already. As she pulled her fingers nearly all the way out, she released the bite and licked that spot instead. Then she pushed back in and gently bit a different place.
Salomen’s fingers sank into the armrest as she tensed. The shift to this deliberate pace left her trembling and moaning with each deep movement, but Tal kept the tempo precisely the same, even when Salomen’s body began to shake. Every thrust, every bite, and every lick was now an agony of pleasure, the sensations pulsing through both of them. Tal’s own arousal was not far behind, and she groaned from the overwhelming heat of it.
The sound seemed to be all Salomen needed. Her hips rose into the air, straining and shaking as the release roared through her body and Tal’s mind. The force of it wrung a strangled cry from both of them, though Tal managed to keep going, prolonging it for as long as she could. At last Salomen slumped down, gasping for air, and pushed her away.
“Enough! Goddess!” Her arms fell limply to the side.
Tal slowly withdrew her fingers, which glittered with the lubricating powder. The scent was stronger now, the powder combining with her own skin oils to create the unique fragrance of a joined couple. It was intoxicating, like an entire forest of sallgreens on a rainy night, when the trees released their scent into the cool air. She sucked her fingers clean, humming happily as the fresh flavor expanded into her nose and down her throat.
The lazy, sated warmth emanating from Salomen vanished under a jolt of shocked arousal. Tal looked up and smiled. “Ready for another one, then?”
Salomen laughed weakly. “Not if you want me to walk out of here. But great Mother, you look sexy doing that.”
Tal wrapped her arms around Salomen’s waist and rested her head against her stomach. “You’re the sexy one. And so beautiful,” she whispered as an aftershock vibrated the body beneath her.
Salomen made an incoherent sound, her hands landing heavily on Tal’s back, and they stayed in that position until long after her breathing had returned to normal. At last her grip tightened, and she ran her hands up to caress Tal’s hair.
“I’ll probably think twice before I push you like that again,” she said with a smile that Tal could actually hear. “I got a little more than I expected.”
Tal tried not to feel too smug, but it was impossible.
“Don’t bother. I know you’re proud of yourself.”
“Maybe just a little.” Tal lifted her head. “But this whole thing started because I was so proud of you. There’s something about watching you take care of yourself that makes me…”
“Hot as a black rock on a summer day?”
“Well—yes.”
Salomen laughed. “So you get aroused by me being pushy and taking no grief. Good to know. I think that’s a first.”
“What can I say? I’m in love with you. When I first met you, that attitude drove me insane. But even then I respected it.”
Salomen’s mood grew more serious. “That’s something I will never take for granted. Your respect. It means everything to me.”
“Great Goddess, Salomen, no one who meets you can keep from respecting you. They may not like you, but they have to respect you.”
“I’m not so certain about that. I don’t think respect is what motivates Gordense Bilsner.”
“It may not motivate him, but I’d be surprised if he doesn’t feel it.” Tal muffled a groan as she climbed to her feet. “Damn. This floor is hard on knees.” She collected the scattered clothing and handed over the pieces one by one as Salomen dressed. Before the shirt went on, however, Tal dropped a soft kiss on each breast, followed by one to the reddened area of her throat. “I’m afraid I left a
mark,” she said, brushing her finger over it.
“So did I.” Salomen flashed a rather evil smile, then pulled her shirt over her head and tucked it in. “Though I’m guessing mine is quite a bit larger. I still can’t believe what you did. That was incredible.”
“Yes, it was,” Tal said, remembering the way Salomen’s body had moved while she had held her trapped.
Salomen brought her back with a soft slap to her stomach. “Just remember,” she warned. “I learn by observation and imitation.”
“I know. I look forward to it.”
Tal wasn’t quite ready to face her Guards, so she took the coward’s way out and notified them via com that they were now departing.
Salomen looked over as they lifted off. “Do you really think the Guards heard me?”
“More than once, I’m afraid.”
She faced forward again. “Poor Vellmar. She may never recover.”
CHAPTER 47:
Strategy session
For the second time that morning, Aldirk strode across the Redmoon Base landing pad with Head Guardian Gehrain at his side. Their destination was the only thing that remained the same. At dawn he had been alarmed by his abrupt summons and irritated by the uncomfortable flight; now he was a member of an elite team charged with a task of planetary importance.
He was still reeling over the idea of a caste coup being planned right under his nose, but his discreet inquiries had uncovered more of an association between Parser and Shantu than anyone would have suspected. Different people had heard or seen different things, which meant little by themselves but acquired significance when added together. When he informed the Lancer of his findings, the look in her eyes made him very glad he was not Shantu. She was on her way in from the healing center and asked them to meet her as soon as she arrived.
Without a Front: The Warrior's Challenge (Chronicles of Alsea Book 3) Page 36
